Ecological Analysis of Digestive Cancer Mortality Related to Contamination by Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning Toxins along the Coasts of France

摘要: Shellfish consumers are exposed to the risk of diarrhea from, among other contaminants, algae that produce diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxins, such as Dinophysis spp. These illnesses have been effectively prevented since 1984, when a phycotoxin monitoring network was set up along coasts France. There is nonetheless concern residual levels okadaic acid, known tumor promoter main toxin present in French coastal waters, might increase cancer regular consumers. To test this hypothesis, we conducted an ecological study linking digestive mortality rates with proxy measure contamination by DSP toxins 59 areas. Observed and expected numbers deaths (using national reference) were computed sex, cause death, area for two time periods: 1984-1988 1989-1993. The level each estimated total number weeks began production shut down because contamination. Using both Poisson regressions trends standardized ratios across four exposure categories, found some evidence associations several sites (esophagus, stomach, colon, liver, cancers men; stomach pancreatic women). Among men, only statistically significant result remained after taking possible confounding alcohol use into account involved colon cancer. conclusions provided analysis very tentative; they need be reproduced interpreted light additional information on potential long-term effects toxins. In absence human data, provide indication association between cancers.